Weekly Short Stories Contest and Company! discussion

I did that hours earlier and it's called "Rat Rage". I love the comment you gave it on Face Book, Marie. :)

TPBM wonders why a lot of metal heads have the first name Phil (examples include Phil Anselmo (lead singer from Pantera), Phil Labonte (lead singer from All That Remains), Phil Campbell (guitarist from Motorhead), and Phil Brooks (former WWE wrestler who performed as CM Punk)).

I don't know much about metal heads seeing as how I listen to very little heavy metal. Some, but not much.

TPBM hates that moment when a cat follows you into the bathroom and as it tries to rub your legs, it's tail comes dangerously close to getting peed on.
(Yes, this can happen to girls too.)

My gray and white kitty Ozzy does this to me all the time. I'm not really annoyed by it, though. I just reach down and pet the little guy. Plus, he's in no danger of being urinated on. I enjoy Ozzy's company very much. ^_^

TPBM has some kind of library in their home whether it’s of books, DVD’s, videogames, CD’s, or otherwise.

Books, DVDs and video games. This house is a nerd's wet dream.

TPBM doesn't often read YA but sometimes finds a series that is so awesome, it has to be shared with everyone. (Shout it from the rooftops!)

(Gets up on the rooftop of my house.) Hey, everybody! I'm reading "The Blood Guard" by Carter Roy! It's fast-paced, action-packed, and an all-around badass book!

How did I do, Marie? ;)

TPBM didn’t get his or her first kiss until later in life.

I think I was 7. Does that count? He kissed my cheek but I thought he was sweet.

TPBM has to get up in 3 and a half hrs to put kids on a school bus. (Goodnight!)

Goodnight, Marie! Sleep well! And as for me, in three hours, I'm going to be zonked out. I live in Washington state, so the time difference means something.

TPBM has a hot tub in their backyard.

No. I've thought about it, but decided I don't want to have to take care of one.



TPBM thinks there is a fine line between owning things, and having them own you.

Definitely. A line that is crossed all too much.

TPBM loves rainy days.

I live in a temperate rain forest, and so 'loving' rain is like saying 'loving' air. It is what it is and you just get on with life.

TPBM loves the smell of air after a good long rain shower.

I'm not particularly fond of rainy weather, so the smell wouldn't appeal to me either.

TPBM enjoys spring and summertime weather.

I like all of the seasons.

TPBM Loves the feeling of understanding a complex concept

It does make me feel good about my intelligence, so yes, I can get behind that sentiment. I wish this could have happened in college when I took a lot of confusing classes like Medieval Literature and Intro to Arabism and Zionism.

TPBM has at least one character in his or her stories named Seamus.

No, can't say that I do but I might just borrow that name for some future works!

TPBM has a house full of more plushies than any one house should contain.

Absolutely! I've got one of a bunny, a Keebler Elf, Michigan Frog, an alligator Cuddle-Uppet, and a few teddy bears just for good measure. My house is a much cuter place because of these plush dolls. ^_^

Whenever TPBM listens to music, he or she fantasizes about singing that song to a live audience and being cheered on.

Yes, even though I can't really sing at all

TPBM Finds it hard to wrap their head around the idea of there friends being married.

I used to be jealous of my married friends, but that was during a time of depression and dissatisfaction with where my life was. Now that everything is clear and calm, I wish my married friends the best.

TPBM has a vacation planned for the near future.

I wish, but we had a vacation a few months ago, so plans will have to wait awhile.


TPBM Sometimes pretends that they are on vacation when they are stuck at home.

I do that every time I sit at the keyboard to write a story. My fictional worlds make...interesting vacation spots. Hehe!

TPBM has at least one character in his or her stories named Chad.

No but since you're on the name kick...

TPBM has a character in one of their stories named Blayke.

Sorry, I don't have any dudes or chicks named Blake.

TPBM used Dictionary.com when trying to find out what the most recent prompts for this group mean (and by recent prompts, I mean Exsanguinate, Komorebi, Dog-Eared Paperbacks, and Synesthesia).

The only one I had to look up was Komorebi, but I suggested Synesthesia so it'd be pretty bad if I had to look that one up. :)


TPBM loves learning new words

Indeed I do. According to my brother James, if I hear a word I really like, I'll use it so often that it's recognizable after a certain point. I can't say he's wrong.

TPBM is amazed that this group has gone through somewhere north of 250 different topics over the years.

Yes. I haven't been part of the group long and that sounds like a lot of topics!



TPBM just finished a nice bubble bath!

If I ever do take a bubble bath, it will be in my hot tub out back with the jets turned on. I haven't done it yet tonight, but with the cool air blowing outside, it sounds like a good idea. :)

TPBM once said “D’oh!” like Homer Simpson whenever something went wrong.

No, but I have been known to say "Son of a biscuit eater!" on occasion and I know very few people who say that.

TPBM should make of video of the epic cat fails going on around their house. Youtube gold.

No, at this time in my life, but once upon a time, a long time ago when the earth was green, [when] there were more kinds of animals than you've ever seen...

TPBM cannot imagine a time in their life when they won't have a pet.

I love animals too much to live without them. My family will even adopt elderly ones because they don't get chosen that often at the shelters. That's how we got cats like Sitka, Oswald, and Ozzy.

TPBM wants a bumper sticker that says, “Ask your doctor if medical advice from a television commercial is right for you.”

I do not! As resident of Canada, my exposure to that kind of snake oil selling is less ubiquitous. Alas, that is changing with the Americanization of our politicians and businessmen.

TPBM uses a scanner to help them transcribe extended quotations from books.

I type it all by hand, as evidenced by my participation in the "55th Page" game thread. The paragraph I used for CJ Box's "Open Season" took a lot of work since it was not only long, but emotionally driven as well. I wanted to make sure I did CJ Box justice.

TPBM cracks his or her joints.

Not all of them! My left ankle appears to be the sole cracker in my body, with rare exception.

TPBM practices some form of stretching exercises to help loosen muscles and ease movement.

I like to bend my fingers backward and twist them into awkward shapes, but that's about it. Ever since I dropped 15 pounds recently, my fingers have been more flexible.

TPBM wants a bumper sticker that says, “Readers never go to bed alone.”

I would actually. I take my book boyfriends with me!

TPBM wants ice cream. Right now.

I just had a big meal at Burger King, so I'm good as far as food cravings go.

TPBM is a positive thinker.

Not really. Although I have gotten old enough to be positive that I am never positively sure that what I think may be true actually is. I guess that makes me ambivalent or a waffler. But I do say and think that in an upbeat tempo and with a great deal of humour. Most of the time.

TPBM is positive that their source of official news is misleading them most of the time with corporate propaganda promoting self-interest.

Of course. That is why I never watch the news or read the paper.



TPBM want to know how Garrison could "drop 15 pounds" eating all that fast food and junk food he talks about.
(I'm jealous of course)

Definitely! I think we could all benefit from this knowledge.

TPBM is currently watching a TV series on Netflix.

I'm currently playing Wartune but I do watch a lot of TV shows on Netflix rather than regular TV or cable/dish.

TPBM needs to stop snacking late at night.

Actually, I’m watching Wrestlemania 31 on the WWE Network instead. It’s been an amazing show so far. Daniel Bryan is the new Intercontinental Champion! YES!!

And to be honest with you guys, losing 15 pounds while eating junk food was a miracle. I have no idea how it happened, but it sure did and I’m very happy about it.

TPBM knows not to use the word “ironic” for things that are similar.

Uh-oh! Double post!

I do not need to stop midnight snack-making. And I do know that that is a misuse (abuse) of 'ironic'.

TPBM recently discovered that a word they occasionally used had a different definition than how they were using it.

Nope

TPBM gets two people they know confused with each other (ie calling one by the other's name)

Yes, but not in person. If I am talking to someone else about them I will mix up my daughter and younger sisters names. I assume it is because my sister was significantly younger than me.


TPBM woke up hating their life this morning and has no idea why.

Not hating it, but wishing it wasn't 5am and that I would be going to work this morning.

TPBM often wakes before their morning alarm.

I woke up right at my morning alarm (9:00 AM) to take my antibiotics and then went back to bed to crash.

TPBM is an avid photographer.

Not particularly.

TPBM doesn't understand why some people are constantly taking selfies.

I have no idea either, Angie. It might have something to do with arrogance, but I'm not sure.

TPBM was deeply disturbed after watching the docudrama North Country.

I've never seen it, so I can't say I have.

TPBM enjoys doing math for fun.

Depends on what kind of math it is. If it's purely numbers, then I'd say so. If it's a "story problem", then no way, Jose. The numbers in those story problems can represent anything. Plugging them into the wrong part of the equation has gotten me in trouble throughout my entire student career.

TPBM actually knows the difference between interpersonal and intrapersonal.

I'd have to look it up so I'm going to go with "no."

TPBM has got to stop reading and writing stories for this group when they've had very little sleep.